Hypolipidemic and Hypoglycemic Effect of Cinnamon Extract in High Fat Diet Fed Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Physiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt, 44511

2 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt, 44511

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral administration of cinnamon extract (CE) in rats fed on high fat diet (HFD). Thirty two adult male albino rats were divided into four groups; control group, HFD group, HFD group treated by cinnamon and the last group was treated with cinnamon extract. In HFD group, rats were fed on HFD for two months. In HFD group treated by cinnamon, rats fed on HFD for two months then CE was orally administered for a period of 4 weeks at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. In CE treated group, rats were fed on standard diet for two months then orally administered CE for a period of 4 weeks at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. The obtained results indicated that the oral administration of cinnamon extract has antihyperlipidemic effect that improving the lipid profile. There were reductions in the levels of serum triglycerides, LDL-C, VLDL-C (P≤ 0.01) and total cholesterol (P<0.05) with an increase of the HDL-C serum level (P≤ 0.01) in HFD fed rats treated by CE. There was a significant decrease in blood glucose level (P≤ 0.01), elevation of serum insulin level (P≤ 0.01) and reduction in liver enzyme ALT and AST activities (P≤ 0.01) with oral administration of CE. In addition, CE can promote glucose transporter isotype-4  (GLUT4) gene expression in adipose tissue of HFD fed rats. From the current study, it was concluded that oral administration of cinnamon extract has both hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects in hyperlipidemic rats.

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